yellow fever (except it's me this time)

Hello everyone. After a completely inexcusable delay I am finally blogging again. I was actually quite flattered that a few people were angry at me for not blogging. I was also happy to see some comments on here from folks.

I hope that you haven't given up on the Vellaikkaari blog just yet, because there are still quite a few more months to go before I earn shore leave. And I think that blogging about Madurai is going to be the pick-me-up I need right now as I appear to have hit a bit of a slump.

There are lots of things to tell. Especially some ghost stories! But I will save those for later. My internet connection has been on the blink for two months, which is part of the reason for my radio silence. Also, my boyfriend was visiting India for one month and we were doing a lot of traveling. We spent one week in the lovely Meenambalpuram at which time I introduced him variously as "my friend" "my classmate" (and his personal favorite) "my father's brother's youngest son" or "chittappaa paiyan." I think no one bought these lies whatsoever, but then again no one seemed to care and people seemed to enjoy playing along that the emperor has no clothes. Yet again I was reminded that people in Madurai are much more open-minded that I have been led to believe, especially where foreigners are concerned. I was so completely neurotic about people thinking I am a "bad girl" for having him here, that I began to assume the neighbors were disapproving of me when actually it was just that they had a migraine. In fact, people who have never spoken to me before began to make conversation because of Luke! Namely, the men across the street. Again I need to remember that my actions, or misdeeds, are not at the front of folks' minds. Of course, they would be if I were a 28-year-old unmarried INDIAN woman, but I'm an American and I get away with (some) stuff.

Luke bought me some gold while he was here, because even after a short time he came to realize its importance. Importance actually isn't even the right word; think something much stronger, like AKIN TO GOD. I think the moment of realization was when we were in the market in Pondicherry and I was wearing a sari and no chain. The older ladies there were making fun of me (ruthlessly) because I didn't have on a chain. I couldn't resist jumping in and telling them I understood what they were saying, to which they basically responded, "Well, okay then. Understand us and get yourself a CHAIN!" and "Your neck looks WEIRD (without a chain)" ETC ETC. I was mad as a hornet after that, because at that time I (thought I) hated gold. But of course once we got to Madurai some gold purchases were made and I changed my tune real quick. However, I had to wait until a week after Luke left to unveil the earrings, and I still haven't unveiled the chain. You see, this is because I don't want to be confused with a prostitute. Allow me to do the math for you: man appearing on the scene (not husband) + sudden and inexplicable input of gold jewelry = "prostitute." This is the formula in Meenambalpuram. I've been told it many times and I didn't believe until I saw it for myself. It's repeated here kind of like a mantra. So I've got to be careful how I deploy this gold. So far the earrings have been a big hit and no one has done any dubious math quite yet. We will see what happens when the gold chain comes out. I'm going to a wedding on Friday and I might just make a splash because there is no way I am wearing a sari again without a chain.

In the meantime, I hope y'all keep reading this blog and I promise more updates!

In TN there is no such thing as too much bling.